Pipe joints or couplings – With means blocking release of holding means – Auxiliary latch
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-03-27
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
With means blocking release of holding means
Auxiliary latch
C285S087000, C285S082000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206433
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to air conduits for conducting combustion air to internal combustion engines of engine-driven vehicles. More particularly it relates to quick-connect couplings for such conduit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most modem automobiles are crowded in the engine compartment, and therefore require numerous components to be removed and replaced whenever routine maintenance is performed. In addition, and due to this crowding, air induction components are often scattered about the engine compartment. To connect these scattered air induction components, conduits are provided to conduct air throughout the engine compartment.
Due to the crowding, these conduits often must have complex profiles, permitting them to fit around and between the other components. For this reason, plastics such as nylon are often used to make the conduits since these materials permit the molding of complex shapes and are also highly resistant to the elevated temperatures in the engine compartments. These shapes, however, are typically not molded as single pieces, but are assembled from conduit subcomponents due to the difficulty in molding them as a single unit.
As a result, the subcomponents have numerous joints whereby they are coupled. These joints must be air tight to prevent air leaks, yet must also be readily assembled and disassembled whenever repairs or periodic maintenance is required. Screwed or clamped joints suffer from several disadvantages in this environment. They can be overtightened, causing the plastic conduits to warp and fatigue. This can cause air leaks which in turn cause the engine to run poorly.
Furthermore, because of the underhood crowding, these joints often require additional parts such as screws and clamps that are difficult to orient and support during assembly, thus increasing the risk that they will be dropped and lost.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved conduit coupling that can be quickly and easily removed. What is further needed is a coupling that does not require additional parts, but is formed integrally with the conduits themselves. It is an object of this invention to provide such a conduit coupling.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a coupling is provided for joining two portions of an air conduit that includes a first polymeric conduit having a cylindrical portion with several spaced apart locking pins and catches extending from its outer surface, and a second polymeric conduit having a cylindrical portion and a locking collar fixed to the cylindrical portion in which the first polymeric conduit is placed.
The second conduit has slots in the locking collar that engage the locking pins, and flexible fingers that engage the catches. The catches and flexible fingers prevent the two conduits from rotating with respect to each other in a direction that would permit the locking pins and slots to disengage.
The locking and corresponding fingers are preferably disposed evenly about the circumference of their respective conduits. The flexible fingers are preferably located so that they are deflected axially away from the longitudinal axis of the second conduit to disengage the catches on the first conduit.
Other principal features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings, the detailed description and the appended claims.
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Luu Teri Pham
Siemens Canada Limited
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